michael bednar
Michael Bednar was born and raised in the heart of The Chemical Valley,
more gently known as Sarnia, Ontario. Feeling stifled by the confines of
small-town life and threatened by the toxins being spewed from the
refineries; at age three Michael packed a snack and made his first of
numerous early attempts to escape, all of which were thwarted by his
mother. Finally, in 1989, Michael found a window of opportunity and ran
west.
He attended college in Castlegar, B.C. where he studied natural resource management and began in his work and play to explore the mountains, coast and forests of Western Canada. It was during this time that he first picked up a camera and began to document his explorations. It was also during this time that his life-long itch to travel took him further abroad where he discovered the rich diversity of life and cultures in places like Africa, The Middle East and Asia. After a few years of globetrotting Michael returned to Canada to attend the Western Academy of Photography and secured a diploma in Professional Photography. After completing a practicum at The Calgary Herald he worked for a daily newspaper in southern Alberta where he was able to hone his skills and gain invaluable experience photographing spectacular events such as Bridge night at the local community centre. Michael has been freelancing since 2002 doing editorial and corporate photography. He also did a short stint taking pictures in circles for Expedia. He continues to explore and build a library of images from around the world focusing on landscape, wildlife and portraits that work to capture the often profound relationships between people and their environments. Michael is based in Vancouver, B.C. where he also works in his spare time with Atira Women’s Resource Society, a not-for-profit group developing a digital storytelling project that works to connect urban and on-reserve Aboriginal youth with each other, their cultures and the history and ongoing effects of the colonization of Canada. Inspired by Phil Borges; the project will partner with Phil’s Bridges to Understanding in an effort to encourage the participation and connection of indigenous youth around the world. |